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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Discretioun, Discrecioun, n. Also: discretyown, -youne, -cretion(e, -creatione, -cratio(u)n; discreccioune, -ione, -crecioune, -ion; discressioun(e, -ion(e, -cresciun. [ME. discretioune, -ion, -crecioun, -crecyun (1303), -cressioun, etc., OF. discrecion, L. discrētio.]

1. Discretion, discernment, judgement.(a) c1420 Wynt. ii. 806 (conand in all discretyoune). Ib. v. 4323 (men off gud dyscretyowne). a1500 Henr. Fab. 390 (brutall beistis … wantand discretioun). c1500-c1512 Dunb. ix. 123 (contrar gud ressoun, conscience and discretioun). Ib. xv. 5 (in asking sowld discretioun be). 1537 Lynd. Depl. Magd. 34 (quhair was thy discretion). c1552 Id. Mon. 650 (sum prince of gret discretioun). a1570-86 Maitland Maitl. F. clxxiv. 17 (nocht off sa guid discretion).(b) 1425 Acts II. 9/2 (ane honest persone of discrecion). 1456 Hay I. 66/29 (wit and resoun, knaulage and discrecioun). Ib. II. 23/2 (wisdome and discrecioun). c1420 Ratis R. 1415 (the perfeccione of resone and discreccioune). c1490 Irland Asl. MS. I. 19/27 (the confessour suld haue sciens and discrecoun). a1500 Bk. Chess 1222 (with discrecioun suld it vsit be).(c) c1420 Ratis R. 704 (it blindes thi discressioune). c1490 Irland Asl. MS. I. 9/18 (all person havand wit & discressioun). 1524 Stirling B. Rec. I. 19 (efter thair consiance and discression). 1549 Corr. M. Lorraine 302 (be your auin discresciun).

b. Personified. a1500 Doug. K. Hart 585.
Ressoun ran on quhair at Discretioun lay In to ane nuke Ib. 653. c1500-c1512 Dunb. G. Targe 165.
Scho led wyth hir … Discretioun, Gentrise, and Considerance Id. lxxxi. 43.
Thane spak Discretioun, ane lady richt bening a1570-86 Maitl. F. clvi. 11.
Throw covatice blind is discretioun

2. In the phrase at (also be, efter, in, with) the discretioun of (a person or persons).c1420 Wynt. viii. 258 (in the dyscretyown off Edward). 1456 Hay I. 268/3 (efter the discrecioun of him and his counsale). 1487 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 53 (at the discretioun of the provest and baillies). 1534 Acta Conc. & Sess. MS. IV. 69 (with avis and discretioun of ws). 1560 Rolland Seven S. 2428 (thame to dispone at ȝour awin discretioun). 1576 Edinb. Test. IV. 317 b (to be delt be Thomas Logyis discretioun). 1596 Dalr. II. 79/9 (this I refer to the discretioune of vtheris). 1686 New Mills Manuf. 141 (we leave it to the discreatione of the mesters).

3. Possession of full reason or judgement. 1456 Hay I. 229/3.
Sen thai ar of perfyte elde and of discrecioun 1490 Irland Mir. I. 73/11.
Eftir that he cum to discrecioune, he sal haue fre will and arbiter 1563 Montgomery Mem. 196.
To have the governing … of … my sone … quhill he be of perfyt age of discressione

4. pl. Used as an honorary title in addressing persons in authority. 1500 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 82.
My lordis provest, baillies, and worthie counsale of this nobil toune, unto youre honorable discrationis, richt humily menis … the kirk-mastir a1578 Pitsc. II. 61/10.
I pray ȝour discretionis quyetlie to heir me Ib. 61/27.
It is iust … ȝour discretiounis to knaw [etc.]